What is the Microbiome? Did you know that there are 10-times more microbes on and in the human body than there are human cells? We call the collection of these microbes our "microbiome." The majority of these microbes (which weigh as much as 5 ... [Read More]
About Brian D. Lawenda, M.D.
IOE (No Drug) Sleep Tips
Many people nowadays struggle with sleep – getting to sleep, staying asleep or both – but people undergoing cancer treatment tend to be particularly affected by sleep problems. The causes vary. Insomnia may be due to anxiety, depression, ... [Read More]
Is It Safe To Take Antioxidants During Cancer Treatment?
Antioxidant Effects The question of whether it is safe to take antioxidants during chemotherapy or radiation therapy is not a simple one to answer. Experts have been trying to definitively answer this question for many years, but it remains very ... [Read More]
How to Reduce Your Risk of Blood Clots (DVT and PE)
Cancer patients have an elevated risk of developing life-threatening blood clots. For some patients, the type of cancer they have can trigger blood clots. Some cancers actually produce substances which can activate the clotting cascade and produce ... [Read More]
Cannabis for Cancer Patients
Cannabinoids are a class of diverse chemical compounds that acts on cannabinoid receptors in cells, altering neurotransmitter release in the brain. They are commonly associated with and found in marijuana. There are also similar compounds within the ... [Read More]
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for Radiation Side Effects
Do you have longterm side effects from your prior radiation treatment? Hyperbaric oxygen therapy “HBOT” (breathing 100% oxygen while inside a pressurized chamber) may be a very effective treatment for radiation damaged tissues. Who Might ... [Read More]
Why You Should Know Your Epigenetic Age
Did you know that the older your epigenetic age relative to your chronological age the greater your risk of developing cancer and dying from cancer? The study below found exactly this. ... [Read More]
Going To A Spa: What Cancer Patients & Survivors Need to Know
Your skin is your body’s largest organ and what you put on it and how you treat it really does matter. It is also your first-line of defense against the numerous toxins and infectious organisms you come into contact with every day. If you have cancer ... [Read More]
Low FODMAP Diet Reduces GI Inflammation
One of the most common causes of intestinal inflammation is irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), affecting 10% of adults in the U.S. Since inflammation in the gut can cause systemic inflammation (a key driver of cancer), it’s one of the important factors ... [Read More]
I Recommend Taking A Personalized Probiotic
Your gut microbiome is essential in maintaining a healthy immune system, low systemic inflammation, insulin sensitivity, psychoemotional balance, neurocognitive health, nutrient absorption, metabolism and elimination of toxic compounds, barrier ... [Read More]
Proton Beam Therapy in Cancer Treatment
The number of proton beam therapy (PBT) centers continues to grow despite their high construction and operational costs, as well as the insurance barriers for patients to access this treatment. If cost was not a factor, most oncologists, ... [Read More]
Not All Generic Drugs Are The Same
Most people believe that generic drugs are identical to the brand name. When you get a dispensed drug, you likely don’t think about who makes it. Your pharmacy may switch you from a brand to generic, or they may switch between generics. Did you ... [Read More]
Lab Tests To Biohack Your Cancer
Cancer, cardiovascular disease and neurodegenerative diseases are more likely to develop in individuals who have the following conditions: Impaired immune systemChronic, low-level, systemic inflammationInsulin resistanceNutrient deficienciesGut ... [Read More]
Breast Cancer Survivors: 5 Years or Longer Of Endocrine Therapy
This is a big question asked by most hormone receptor positive breast cancer survivors. The data clearly shows an improvement in outcomes when taking 5 years of endocrine therapy, and recent studies report additional benefits when continuing to take ... [Read More]
Ketogenic Diet 101: Everything You Need To Know On The What, How And Who
Watch The 4-Minute Preview Above The ketogenic diet is another hot topic. Everyone who has attended my popular talks on this subject walks away with a much greater understanding and appreciation of this dietary approach to weight loss and health ... [Read More]
What Every Health Care Provider and Patient Should Know About Medical Cannabinoids
Watch the 4-Minute Trailer Above Medical cannabinoids is a hot topic. Everyone who has attended my popular talks on this subject walks away with a much greater understanding and appreciation of this natural medicine. -Dr. Lawenda Topics Covered ... [Read More]
Building Muscle Mass Is Anticancer
While much attention has been focused on the potential anticancer effects of being physically active (i.e getting 150-minutes per week of moderate intensity physical activity, etc.), one of the most important physiological changes you can make to ... [Read More]
Why You Should Consult With A Functional Medicine Trained Oncologist And Biohacker
Did you know that cancer patients and survivors are at a higher risk of dying from any cause compared with individuals who have never had cancer? If this fact worries you, I have good news. Combining functional medicine and biohacking, I can ... [Read More]
How To Find Your Effective CBD Dose
I often get asked this question: "How do I know what dose of CBD to use." While everyone is very different, here is my typical response. Start at a low dose and titrate up I recommend starting at a dose of 10 mg and increase the dose in 5 mg ... [Read More]
Things That Make Immunotherapy Less Effective
Introduction: What Are Immunotherapies? Immunotherapy is a type of cancer treatment that helps your immune system fight cancer. Several types of immunotherapy are used to treat cancer. These treatments can either help the immune system attack the ... [Read More]
Anticancer Effects of Inositol and IP-6
Inositol hexaphosphate ("IP6", "myo-inositol hexaphosphate" or "phytic acid") is a natural molecule present in most plant and animal cells. You get this stuff in your diet mainly from eating cereals, grains, legumes and meat. Your body can also ... [Read More]
Reduce Risks of Metastases From Cancer Surgery or Biopsy
Can cancer surgery or biopsies cause tumor cells to metastasize or become more aggressive? Yes. But before you say to yourself that I won't have these done, it's VERY important to know that: Surgery on tumors that have not spread distantly can be ... [Read More]
Reducing Estrogen Receptor Stimulation Without Drugs
Seventy-to-eighty percent of all breast cancers have estrogen receptors ("ER-positive".) When estrogen binds to these receptors, it leads to their activation and stimulation of cancer cell growth. Breast cancer medications are often prescribed to ... [Read More]
Dr. Lawenda Opens Anti-Cancer, Integrative Oncology Course For Everyone
Dr. Brian Lawenda here. Over the last year I have been working on an updates to the Integrative Oncology Essentials course known as the IOE Program. I excited to announce we have officially launched. The 17-module program has been completely ... [Read More]
Protect Your Nails From Chemotherapy with Polyphenols
Chemotherapy often causes varying degrees of nail damage, called "onycholysis." Similar to the effects on hair follicles, most chemotherapy drugs inhibit rapidly dividing cells and cause inflammation in the nail bed. These changes allow bacteria and ... [Read More]
Blocking Cancer With Combinations of Supplements and Off-Label Drugs
Targeting cancer cell metabolism, growth signaling pathways and enhancing anti-cancer immunity are among the hottest topics being explored in oncology, today. It has become increasingly clear that many natural compounds, supplements and FDA-approved ... [Read More]
Cold Cap Therapy Helps Maintain Hair During Chemo
If you want to try to keep your hair during chemotherapy read this article. I wish more oncologists would tell their patients about this incredibly simple hair saving technique, but unfortunately many are either unaware of how effective it is or are ... [Read More]
Breast Cancer Radiation Treatment: “DIBH” Deep Inspiration Breath-Hold
If you need radiation for breast cancer ask your radiation oncologist, if they can treat you with a technique that may be able to significantly lower the amount of radiation dose to your lung and/or heart. This technique is called "DIBH" or "deep ... [Read More]
The Most Personalized Approach To Picking Cancer Drugs
Functional drug sensitivity assays use a sample of living tumor tissue (from a biopsy of your tumor) to help predict which drugs will be most effective in killing your cancer. The development, validation and clinical implementation of these assays is ... [Read More]
Prostate Cancer Treatment
Dr. Brian Lawenda’s lecture on Prostate Cancer Treatment at the 2018 UsToo International Prostate Cancer Pathways for Patients & Caregivers Conference (June 23, 2018). TOPICS: Consensus Based Guidelines for Treatment MRI ... [Read More]
